Man o' War Stakes

Running in a race named after one of the most famous horses in American Thoroughbred history, it was fitting that a horse owned and bred by one of the most established families in American racing was the winner in the Man o’ War Stakes.

Imagining, owned and bred by Phipps Stable, led the Man o’ War from start to finish after going off at odds of 3-to-1.

Imagining was able to relax during the early part of the race with Frac Daddy racing in second and Grandeur and Amira’s Prince rounding out the top four until the field hit the far turn. But Imagining had to work as the field turned for home, holding off a stretch-run charge from Real Solution, who closed from the back of the field to nearly catch the winner, losing bythree-quarters of a length. Grandeur, an invader from Europe, finished third, a half-length behind Real Solution.

"Shug [McGaughey, Imagining's trainer] told me there wasn't probably going to be a lot of speed in the race and he was coming off a couple of months off, so he'd probably show some speed and he did. He's a game horse. Every time a horse came to him, he's a fighter. I was really happy with him today," said Imagining's jockey, Joel Rosario.

Imagining’s victory in the Man o’ War was the third straight year the combination of Shug McGaughey and the Phipps has taken home the trophy.

"I'd never won the race before and now I've won it three years in a row," said McGaughey. "I'm pleased, I'm pleased for the horse."

The Man o' War Stakes has been held every year since 1959 and is named to honor the Thoroughbred many consider to be the best racehorse in the history of U.S. racing.

Man o' War won 20 of his 21 career starts. Man o' War set three world records, two American records, two track records, and equaled another track standard. He won one race by an incredible 100 lengths and triumphed in another while carrying 138 pounds.